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The U.S. Department of Agriculture recently replaced the food pyramid with a dinner plate logo, making it a little easier to plan healthy, nutritious, and balanced meals for your family. Rather than bars of food groups stacked into a pyramid, the new icon is a simple, colorful dinner plate that encourages us to serve our kids more fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and low-fat protein and dairy.
According to the USDA’s web page, ChooseMyPlate.gov, fill one side of your child’s plate with fruits and vegetables. On the other half of the plate, serve grains and protein. Aim to make half the grains your child eats whole wheat, rather than processed white flour. At our house, we make our sandwiches and toast with 100 percent whole wheat bread. When choosing protein, low-fat meat and chicken is recommended, plus a serving of seafood a week. Low-fat means ground beef with less than 80 percent fat or skinless chicken. A click on the beverage glass marked dairy reminds us that low-fat or skim is best and that soy is a good option.
The MyPlate site is loaded with easy-to-follow information. Start at the dinner plate icon and choose a food group. Clicking on that leads to an explanation of the food group and examples of food items. From there, the reader can click on serving size, recipes, tips, related topics, and other interactive tools for healthy eating. I found one click to be especially helpful: “How much is needed?” stated the daily serving for the food group not just by gender but age group. For instance, boys ages 14-18 should aim for 3 cups of milk a day, while children 2-3 years need 2 cups.
Of course, whether it is displayed as a plate or a pyramid, the information is a guideline. Nutrition recommendations may change depending on a child’s specific situation. Always find out from your family doctor what is best for your children’s nutrition.
Visit online at http://www.choosemyplate.gov/
Reviewed June 14, 2011
Edited by Alison Stanton
Add a Comment4 Comments
The Problem is not the Pyramid or MyPlate
HOW TO LOSE WEIGHT WITH A DIABETES DIET WAS SHOWN ON BRITISH TELEVISION AND THE DRUG MAKERS HID THE STORY
A European filmmaker has been reversing weight problems in NON diabetics with a Diabetes diet.
It has been giving people who have a hard time losing weight a normal body weight fast
It is now used in 10 countries. ALL weight issues are caused by Food chemicals( PROCESSED FOODS) and he shows how to reverse it
if you are Diabetic or not see here http://spirithappy.org
June 19, 2011 - 5:08amThis Comment
I like the plate, but the low fat, empty calories and whole grain recommendations are off the mark.
June 15, 2011 - 1:48pmThis Comment
I think the plate idea is so visual and very understandable for every age. Maybe this will help with childhood obesity. The pyramid just did not click even with the colors.
June 14, 2011 - 2:33pmThis Comment
Haralee,
June 15, 2011 - 10:00amI agree, the visuals are excellent! I plan to use this website in my classroom next school year...after all, the nutrition chapter in our health text book is now out of date!
Thanks for reading and taking the time to comment!
--Kristan
This Comment